National co-chairs;
Zita Holbourne & Lee Jasper.
The four main objectives of the campaign are: To campaign and defend jobs and services. To highlight the disproportionate and adverse impact of reduction in public spending on black communities, provide a campaigning platform to fight against cuts, To work in partnership/build alliances with others facing similar attacks. Email: barac.info@gmail.com

Blog Archive

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

MLK50; WHAT HAPPENS TO A DREAM DEFERRED?

MLK50 CAMPAIGN

Time
to revisit race equality in Britain.
A dream deferred.

Dr
Martin Luther Kings Dream: A Dream Deferred?

What
happens to a dream deferred?

Does
it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe
it just sags like a heavy load.

Or
does it explode?

Langston Hughes 1951

Black Activists Rising Against Cuts
(BARAC) UK.

BARAC
UK
is a campaigning organisation that focuses on raising awareness of and
challenging economic injustice.As a
result of the economic crisis, brought on by the irresponsible behavior of the
banks and the Government’s austerity budget, the gap between the rich and the
poor continues to widen. Economic injustice is becoming a defining
characteristic of British society. The consequences of this are that the poor
and the vulnerable are increasingly penalised whilst the rich and wealthy have
seen their incomes grow. The growing economic inequality of outcomes for black
and minority ethnic communities when compared to white citizens is profound and
deeply disturbing.

2013
is the 50th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King’s iconic 1963 “I
have a dream’ speech and the civil rights march on Washington. Much has changed and yet racial
disadvantage persists. The economic crisis is compounding disadvantage and
heightening racism in society as people seek to scapegoat minority communities
for the mistakes made by bankers and politicians.

This
special anniversary year offers the opportunity to reflect on our journey and
struggle to achieve race equality.

Racial disadvantage will become
increasingly worse for the next generation.

The
critical question we need to ask when examining the issue of persistent racial
disadvantage is if current legislations and race equality policies are capable
of delivering real race equality in our life time.

Black
and minority ethnic people are affected disproportionately by the current
Government’s economic policy. Racial disadvantage is acutely amplified through
the lens of austerity and levels of racism always rise in times of economic
decline. Some politicians and sections of the press have sought to politically
scapegoat black and ethnic minority, immigrant and asylum seeker communities as
being in part responsible for the current economic crisis. The future for black
and minority ethnic communities in the UK in the current economic and
social climate is fraught with danger. Poor, black and minority ethnic
communities will face more economic injustice and racism than that faced by
their parents compounded by generational disadvantage.

BARAC
UK
believes that as the crisis deepens so will all forms of racism increase. We
must defend the poor from economic injustice and challenge the politics of
racism and scapegoating in the hope of securing a positive future for poor,
black and minority ethnic communities in the UK.

The
dismal future faced by poor, black and minority ethnic families as a result of
another decade of austerity measures and increased rates of racism forces us to
face profound questions about how we change the politics of economic injustice
and racial disadvantage.

In
seeking to respond to these challenges it is important that we recognise our
current political reality that the collective political and economic influence
and leverage of poor, black and minority ethnic communities has never been
weaker. We are largely disunited, fragmented and our communities disempowered.

Black
and Muslim communities face increased level of discrimination, yet these two
communities have become increasing distant and in some cases hostile to one
another post the tragedies of 9/11 and 7/7.Over the last decade this has resulted in both communities having to
endure the increasing erosion of civil rights in the arena of criminal justice
in particular stop and search, deaths in custody and detention without trial.
Both communities are too small challenging racism in relative isolation, to
make a real difference. Only by positively working out our differences,
providing clear and unambiguous leadership whilst unifying behind a radical
agenda is change even remotely possible.

The
failure to seek common cause with other groups within society facing
discrimination is a critical failure of leadership.

In
absence of credible Parliamentary or civic leadership and effective
organisational unity between faith and secular campaigning organisations our
communities are left voiceless in the face of the most profound economic crisis
of a generation.We lack a clear and
coherent reform agenda for change. Change can only come about by abandoning the
failed strategies of the past, fragmented competitive leadership and a lack of
strategic thinking.

The
time is right for a new initiative that takes a longer-term view, that and
inspires communities, prioritises legislative and economic reforms, proposing
policy that can help deliver economic and social justice for generations yet to
come. Our ambition is to work with others to create a social movement and a
political agenda for change that can influence the political debate in the run
up to the general election in 2015.

MLK50.

“The inseparable twin of racial
injustice is economic injustice.”

August 28th 2013 will mark the 50th
anniversary of the iconic March on Washington
led by Dr Martin Luther King. The King dream of a world where people are judged
on their faith or content of their character not the colour of their skin is
yet to be realised.

Dr
King’s Christian Civil Rights campaigning philosophy of love and non-violent
direct action was the most spiritual, politically, morally successful and
effective change strategy ever adopted in the 20th century. Dr
King’s legacy still resonates around the world where his legacy continues to
inspire all opponents of injustice. Dr King understood the violence of poverty,
racism and ignorance, he opposed the economic injustice that racism produced
and he vigorously opposed the Vietnam War.

This
document sets out the rationale and proposals for the establishment of a new
national multi faith, multicultural, anti racist initiative that has as one of
its primary objectives challenging racism and economic injustice.

MLK50 Campaign: Equality in our Lifetime; A National
Anti-Racist Initiative for Jobs and Justice

·Introduction.

·

·“I
have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they
will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character. “

·

·In 2013 we will celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the 1963 US Civil Rights movement’s world famous March on
Washington for Jobs and Freedom, led
by Dr Martin Luther King. It is an opportune time to look at the issue of
racial discrimination and where we are today some 50 years after Dr King’s
famous iconic “I have a dream “ speech was made.

·

·This important anniversary provides a
unique opportunity to pose a number of critical questions as we consider how we
can achieve Dr King’s dream of race equality and freedom from religious
discrimination in our lifetime?

1.What kind of British society can children of the poor, black
and ethnic minorities expect to live in, in 21st century Britain?

2.Will this be a British future where our children will emerge
as fully-fledged, equal citizens with genuine equality of opportunity? Or will
our children continue to be considered third class citizens in a supposed first
class democracy facing increased rates of discrimination?

2.

3.How long will it take to achieve true race equality,
economic justice and freedom from religious prejudice in Britain?

4.Unity and clear and effective organisation is key to
achieving a more equal society. What is to be done right now to change British
society for the better, ending the scourge grinding poverty, racial and
religious discrimination?

5.Future generations face the very real threat of increasing
rates of injustice, denial of opportunity and discrimination. Progress in
tackling racism in the areas of health, education, employment, housing and
immigration is painfully slow, piecemeal and ineffective. Estimates vary but at
the current rate of progress full racial equality may take as long as 300 years
to achieve.

In short how do we ensure that we can
deliver a better society that promotes equality for all our children in our
lifetime?

These
questions speak directly to the kind of legacy we wish to leave our children.
It is the genetic and historic destiny of all parents to improve the lives of
their children. There can be no greater priority for this generation than
ensuring that our children and grandchildren are spared the human degradation,
tragedy and injustice that racism inflicts.

So
how far have we come in ending racism and has Dr King’s dream of a truly
meritocratic non-racist society been delivered?

The aims of MLK50
Campaign 2013 are to:

1.Use
2013 to launch a nationwide, multi
faith, multi cultural campaign to deliver an agenda for change and celebrate Dr
King’s dream in pursuit of equal rights and economic justice for all. The MLK50 campaign.

2.To organise a national demonstration
for a March on Whitehall for Jobs and Justice on the 31st August
2013 and seek support for our efforts internationally.

3.To organise a series multi faith
services, conferences seminars, demonstrations and a range of other events that
celebrate the life and work of Dr King and support our efforts to initiate
change.

4.To launch a national voter registration
drive to bring about greater levels of political empowerment in seeking to
highlight and challenge racial and religious inequality.

5.To establish a new coalition of civic
society under the umbrella EMBRACE highlighting and challenging racial
disadvantage and economic injustice.

6.To
produce, publish and popularise a coherent political agenda for change for the
forthcoming 2015 elections and to mobilise poor, black and ethnic communities
to vote for an agenda for change.

Action:What’s to be done?

2013: The Rev Martin Luther King 50th
Steering Group

Dr
King’s birthday is on Tuesday
January 15th 2013. He was assassinated on the 4th April 1968.

BARAC
UK
will establish and convene the MLK50
Steering Group

to
lead, coordinate and implement the programme of activity and to mobilise for
the proposed National March on Whitehall
for Jobs and Justice.

Traditionally
Dr Martin Luther King Day in the USA is held on the third Sunday in
January. In 2013 this will take place in the US on Sunday 21st
January.

The
launch of this campaign will take place on March 11th2013 followed by events on:

World
Interfaith Harmony Week, February 1-8th.

International
Women’s Day 8th March,

International
Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 20th March

Dr
King’s assassination 4th April

World
Refugee Day 20th June,

International
Day of Peace 21st September

Black
History Month October

2013; Voter Registration Campaign.

Democratic
inclusion is central to health of any nation. The current level of democratic
deficit and falling rates of voter turnout during elections is reaching crisis
proportions. This dangerous trend is threatening the fabric of democratic legitimacy
and involvement.

We
are concerned that low rates of voter registration are leaving many poor and
deprived communities without effective representation.

The
disengagement from the formal political process, in particular from, British, African and Caribbean communities is alarming. The current democratic
deficit is unsustainable and profoundly damaging in the longer term. Voter
turnout on the UK
continues to decline and is now one of the lowest in the Western world.

In
line with Dr King’s dream we will be working with Operation Black Vote in
supporting their planned voter registration campaign to prepare disempowered
communities for democratic engagement and to enhance democratic accountability
of local politicians.

2013: National March on Whitehall for Jobs &
Justice:

In
2013 we intend, with your support to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of the historic March on Washington.
Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) in partnership with other
organisations is seeking to organise a national demonstration in August.

Suggested Demands:

Jobs

·Extend the provisions of the Northern Ireland Fair
Employment Act 1991 to the UK
as a whole, introducing positive discrimination to tackle unfair and
disproportionate racial discrimination in employment and recruitment practices
within the private sector.

·The introduction of new equality legislation requiring all
Government and local authority contracts to include race equality, jobs and
procurement quotas for all civil service, local authority and statutory
agencies.

·Introduce new legislation based in the US Community
Reinvestment Act 1977 requiring banks to ethnically monitor and publish loans
and investments made whilst requiring a percentage reinvestment of its profits
back into local communities.

By way of
reparations we demand a £500 million fund to promote the establishment of
a national educational bursary scheme enabling students from poor
backgrounds to access high quality
further and higher education facilitating the development of their human full
potential.

·Introduce mandatory monitoring of judicial decisions in
magistrates, crown and civil courts decisions identifying institutional
racism in the administration of criminal justice, such as disproportionate sentencing and introducing comprehensive
monitoring and disciplinary procedures for magistrates and judiciary.

·Establish a Public Inquiry into all suspicious deaths in
statutory custody with a view to reform systems of inquest and police
accountability.

·UK Government to sign the United Nations Committee for the
Elimination of Race Discrimination (CERD) optional protocol making race
discrimination a fundamental breach of human rights.

·UK Government to commit to a genuine and thorough
investigation to calculate the value of generational black disadvantage / white
advantage brought about by historical policies and economic exploitation, andredress this with full compensation or
reparations in various forms.

What we are asking you to do:

·Get your organisation or branch/ region to affiliate to
BARAC UK
and pass a motion supporting the March on London.

·Endorse the campaign to achieve equality in our lifetime.
Join the national march or establish a local march organising committee to
organise promotion travel and logistics for the national march .

·Invite speakers from the campaign to your planned events in
2013.

·Help to fundraise for the March on London Jobs and Justice.

·Organise local, regional, national or international
mobilising meetings.

·Join our Facebook & Twitter pages and help spread the
word.

·Write articles in support of the campaign.

·Join us by volunteering.

Conclusion and way forward.

MLK50 2013 Campaign provides a unique opportunity to reassess
how far we have come and how far we have still yet to go, rethink our failed
strategies of the past and launch a concerted campaign for justice and race
equality.

It
is the genetic destiny and historic responsibility of this generation to secure
a positive future for our children. We must not become the first generation
since enslaved Africans left the plantation to bequeath to our children a
society where the racism they face is worse than that faced by the previous
generation.

The
huge progress made by previous generations provides a clear example to us all.
At the time of slavery our core objective was to gain their freedom and then
achieve equality. Today in 21st century Britain we are free but not yet
equal. Total equality must be our goal.